Basic Outline
We feel the process by which DSHS chose Walla Walla is a sham. DSHS did not conduct enough research on the placement of this house within our community due to the pressure of the judicial rulings. The rules that were selected by DSHS were selected quickly with very limited public input and no local public input. We feel this process was further marred by the fact that few professionals and experts participated in the site selection rules.

DSHS was so rushed to make a choice that they did not even take the time to consult with our local city officials in regards to ordinances and laws that we have in place for siting public facilities.

In the beginning the SCC program was established to treat these predators. This was a very good well designed program including expert treatment. Predators only decided to volunteer for treatment under advisement from their attorneys 8 years after it inception. 

We understand that these predators have served there time and that by the laws that we live by, they must be released back into our communities.   

The court has ordered DSHS to separate itself from the Department of Corrections. By DSHS choosing a site on Department of Corrections land, it would appear that DSHS is disregarding the courts order and possibly opening itself up to legal action in the future.

We feel that DSHS cannot fastrack this process without regard to fulfilling their obligation to think this through completely and make sure that citizen concerns are addressed. We Know that Washington state is running a pilot program for handling these types of criminals developing systems by which to treat and release these offenders. DSHS has spent a lot of time working on the SCC, now it is time for them to spend an equal amount of time in developing rules and procedures for the placement of these Violent Sex Predators Halfway houses.

We will continue to provide updated information on this subject and post it to our web site and disseminate it to the community and our group.. Our ears are open to the community and to our government and hope to form a strong alliance that bonds all of us together with a similar cause.

With a concerted voice of thousands of citizens we feel we can work with DSHS in being part of the solution, not part of the problem.

Possible Solutions.
1. Judge Dwyer can ease up on DSHS and give them the time to properly gather rules for placement of a violent sexual predator halfway house site.
2. DSHS needs to start immediately and work diligently to address the issues of our cities, communities, businesses, city government, school officials, teachers, psychologists, criminal experts, city parks, police, local residents, and others.
3. DSHS needs to distance itself from the Department of corrections as ordered by the court.
4. DSHS needs to consider the short-term and long-term effects that placement of these houses will have within the communities that they will be placed in. 
5. Long term effects could impact local economies with an abnormal number of predators. This would increase city costs for public housing, treatment, and local law enforcement.
6. Adequate and complete research is needed to insure that these predators have been properly evaluated and that they truly represent a very small risk to the community.
7. Treatment criteria needs to be refined to include mandatory treatment and unbiased evaluation by a team of experts.
8. Better and more secure facilities are required and time needs to be spent looking into the best way to create these facilities.


Team Enough is Enough